Seed-planter.



No. 769,137. l PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904. E. M'. HEYLMAN.

SEED PLANTER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1904. NO MODEL. 3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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PATENTED AUG. 30, 1904;.

E. M.v HEYLMAN.

SEED PL'ANTBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 2, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

N0 MODEL.

PATENTED AUG. 430, 1904..

E. M. HEYLMAN.

SEED PLANTER. APPLIOAHONTILED JULY 2, 1904.

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UNITED STATES Patented August 30, 1904.

PATENT OEEICE.

EDWAED M. IIEYLMAN, OE JANESvILLE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOE To .IANESvILLE MACHINE COMPANY, OE .IANESvILLE WISCONSIN,

'A CORPORATION.

sE'Ep-PLANTEn.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 769,137, dated August 30, 1904.

I Application filed July 2, 1904. Serial No. 215,050. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

E@ it known that I, EDWARD M. HEYLMAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Janesville, in the county of Rock and State ticularly to corn-planters of the type set forth in Letters Patent No. 7 60,394, granted to my assignee, the Janesville Machine Company, May 17, 1904. -The planter set forth in said Letters Patent No. 7 60,394 is adapted either for "edge-drop planting or'for fiat-drop planting, both of which methods of planting are found to have under certain circumstances peculiar advantages. ln' said-patent the feed channel or throat of the seedbox was varied in order to adapt it for the different kinds of seed-plates with .Which the planting was to be effected, and such variation was effected by providing a plurality of interchangeable feedplates, one of which was adapted, for example, for use with an edge-drop seed-plate where a varying width of feed-throat was desired and the other of which was adapted for use with a fiat-drop seed-plate where a wide feed throat or channel was required.

The present invention is designed to pro-' vide a construction of planter whereby the same feed-plate may be shifted to different positions in order to properly vary the width of the feed throat or channel for either edgedrop or flat-drop planting, thus rendering unnecessary the use of separate feed-plates for such purpose.

To this end the invention consists, primarily,

in providing a convertible planter having a' seed-plate with means whereby said seed-plate may be set at different positions in order to vary the feed-channel.

By reference to said Letters Patent No. 7 60,394 it will be seen thatA inasmuch as the seed-plate `designed for edge-drop planting is considerably thicker than the seed-plate designed for fiat-drop planting two guard-plates, one thin and the other relatively thick, are

lconnected together by arches a2.

employed, the thin guard-plate being designed for use with the edge-drop seed-plate ,and the thicker guard-plate being designed 4for use with the thin fiat-drop seed-plate.

A further object of thepresent invention is to-provide a guard-plate adapted for use with l' either a thick or thin seed-plate, and this ob- ]ect of invention is accomplished by providing.. `the planter with an invertible guard-plate.

The invention consists also in otherfeatures of novelty that will be hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the claims at the end of this speciiioation.

Figure 1 is a plan view of a planter embodying my invention, the parts being arranged for edge-drop planting. Fig. 2 is a View in vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an inverted plan view of the bottom of the seedbox with the seed-plate and parts normally below it removed, but with the feedplate and adjustable hub in position and with the adjusting-sleeve and center bolt shown in section. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the adjusting-sleeve. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the adjustable hub or bearing. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the under side of the central portion of the seedbox-bottom. Fig. 7 is a detailA plan view of a seed-plate adapted for flat-drop planting. Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2, but showing a flat-drop seed-plate in position for use and showing the bottom guard-plate inverted; and Fig. 9 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 8 with the bottom-retaining nut and washer removed. y

My invention is shown. as applied to a planterthe seedbox A of which has a bottom comprising an outer circular rim a and an inner or central portion a', these parts being The inner part a of the seedbox-bottom is shown as formed with a central offset a3, in the top of which is fixed the upper end' of the retainingbolt B. The head b ofthe bolt B is shown as lying beneath the inner end of a/plate O, that is fastened, as by a bolt c, (see Fig. 1,) to the linner part a of the seedbox-bottom, this plate C being formed at its outer end with a raised chambered portion c', adapted to ,receive the springs for the cut-ofi' D and the knocker D of suitable construction. The chambered -portion cf of the plate C extends above the corresponding recesses formed in the segmental plate a5, whereby the central part a of the seedbox; bottom is connected to the outer rim a.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 2, 6, and 8 of the drawings it will be seen that the inner face of the central part a of theV seedbox-bottom is formed with a polygonal cavity a4, adapted to receive a correspondingly-shaped portion c of the shifting sleeve E. This sleeve E is formed with a central hole e, through which passes the bolt B, and the sleeve E is formed with a concentric bearing portion @2 and with a reduced part e3, having an offset or lug 6*, the purpose of which will presently more fully appear. As a matter of convenience one of the corners of the polygonal part e of the sleeve E is eut away, as at-e. Around the polygonal part e of the sleeve E and immediately beneath the central part a of the seedbox-bottom sets a shifting plate or disk F, (see Figs. 2, 3, 5, and 8,) that is provided with a polygonal opening f of such shape as to receive and engage the polygonal part e ofthe shifting sleeve in either of two positions, as indicated by full and dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Around the plate or disk F sets the feed-plate G, having a concentric opening therein and having a peripheral liange adapted to rest upon the seed-plate beneath it.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings the seedplate H there shown is an edge-drop seedplate-.that is to say, the periphery of this plate is formed with long narrow cavities 4L, adapted to receive the grains of corn edgewise from the feed-throat of the seed box. The edge-drop seed-plate H sets within an annular rack-bar K, that will be driven in the usual or suitable manner, and the seed-plates H may be connected to theraek-bar K by interlocking lugs and grooves in the usual manner. The seed-plate H is provided with a central opening through which passes the circular portion e2 of the shifting sleeve E. Beneath the seedplate H extends the guardplate M, having a central hole with an offset to receive the reduced portion e3 and offset e* of the sleeve E.l As shown, a washer N, encircling the bolt B, bears against the under side of the guard-plate M and a retaining-nut ID engages the threaded lower portion of the bolt to securely hold the parts in position, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 8 of the drawings. The guard-plate M is provided with the usual slot or opening m for the passage of grain, and the guard-plate M is dished or offset with respect to its peripheral part for the purpose to be presently explained. The

rim or peripheral part of the guard-plate M is formed at one edge with an annular flange va, adapted to bear upon the under side of the plane portion of the annular rack-bar, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8 of thel drawings. c

When the parts are assembled and arranged as shown in Figs. l to 3 of the drawings, with the edge-drop plate H in position for use, the polygonal part e of the shifting sleeve E engages the notches j" farthest from the center of the plate or disk F, as shown in Fig'. 3 of the drawings, and thus serves to hold the plate or disk F and the feed-plate (i eccentric with respect to the rim c of the seedbox. lVith the parts in this position the feed throat or channel of the seedbox is of varying' width, at its narrowest point being but little broader than the width of the cells /1/ of themlge-drop seed-plate H, as shown in Fig. l of the drawings.

When the planter is to be used for [iat-drop planting, a seed-plate H2 with broad cells will be substituted for the seedplate l-l, above described. lVhen this flat-drop seedplate is used, the feed-plate (ir will be shifted so as to make the feed throat or channel of the seedbox of approximately uniform width or at least wide enough at all points to admit the grain liatwise into the cells lo. (See Fig. 8.) In order to adjust the feed-plate Gr to this approximately concentric position, the upper polygonal part e of the shifting` sleeve E will be placed within the notches ff of the hub or disk F, and when a vflat-drop seed-plate H2 is used the guard-plate M would be inverted, as shown in Fig. 8, so that its peripheral part shall extend within the annular rackbar K. Inasmuch as the guard-plate M has its central part dished or concaved, it will be seen that by thus inverting this plate and bringing the reduced part of its periphery within the annular rack-bar the same guardplate is adapted for use with a thin flat-drop lOO seed-plate, and the necessity for employing a separate guard-plate is avoided.

I wish it understood that the details of construction above set out may be varied without departure from the spirit of the invention and that features of the invention may be e111- ployed without its adoption as an entirety.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A convertible edge-drop and fiat-drop seed-planter having a seedboxbottom provided with an outer rim and an zuljustable ccntral part cooperating with the said outer rim to form a variable feed-channel.

2. A convertible edge-drop and flat-drop seedplanter having' a seedbox bottom provided with an outer rim, a movable central part cooperating with said outer rim to form a variable feed-channel and means for holding said movable part in diiierent positions.

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3. A, convertible edge-drop and flat-drop seed'- planter having a seedboX -bottomA proa variable feed-channel, an adjustable plate setting within said movable part, said plate having an opening therethrough and a part extending downwardly from the seed-box bottom and adapted .to engage said adjustable part at different points in order to hold said movable part in ditferent positions.

5. A convertible edge-drop and fiat-drop seed-planter having a seedboX-bottom provided with an outer rim and' with a central portion. a movable central part located beneathsaid central portion and coperating with said outer rim to Aform a variable. feedchannel, a bolt extending downwardly from said central portion of the seedboX-bottom and through said movable part, an adjustable plate setting within said movable part'and ywhereby'it may be adjusted and means carvvided with an outer rim, an annular central part cooperating with said outer rim to form a variable feed-channel, an adjustableplate setting loosely 4within said annular central part and whereby it may-be adjusted, a bolt extending downwardly from the central part of the seed box-bottom and anadjusting-sleeve mounted upon said bolt and adapted to engage said adjustable plate at different points in order to hold it in different positions.

7. A convertible edge-drop and fiat-drop seed-planter .having a seedboX-bottom provided with an outer rim, and with an inner portion having-a socket or seat on its under side, a bolt extending downwardly from said inner portion of theseedboX-bottom, an adjusting-sleeve through which said bolt passes hav-ing its upper end set within the socket of `the inner part of the seedboX-bottom and having a polygonal portion, an adjustable plate arranged toengage said polygonal portion oi' the adjusting-sleeve at diferent points and a movable central part cooperating with said outer rim to form a variable feed-channel, said movable central partencircling vsaid adjustable plate.A v

8. A convertible edge-drop and flat-drop seed-planter having a seedboX-bottom provided with an outer rim, a movable central part coperating with said outer rim to form a 'variable feed-channel, an adjustablel plate engaging said movable part and having an opening, an adjustable sleeve passing through said opening of the movable plate and adapted to engage said plate ati diiferent points, said sleeve being provided with an annular rim or hub to pass through thev seed-plate.

9. A convertible edge-drop and flat-dropseed-planter having' a seedboX-bottom provided with an outer'rim, a movable central part cooperating with said outer rim to form la variable feed-channel, an adjusting-'sleeve passing through said movable central part and provided with means for'clamping it to the central portion of the seedboX-bottom and an adjustable plate setting loosely within said'movable part and surrounding said adjusting-sleeve, said adjustable plate being provided with means whereby it may engage said adjusting-sleeve `in diierent positions.

10. A seed-planter having a -seedboX-bottom provided with means for removably hold'- ing seed-plates of different thicknesses, in

combination-with an invertiblev` guard-plate and means for holding said guard-plate in position.

11. A seed-planter having a bottom provided with means for `holding seed-plates 'ofi different thicknesses, in combination with an invertible guardLplate, said vguard-plate being .concave to adapt it for seed-plates of different thicknesses, vsaid guard-plate having its periphery formed with aflange adapted, to extend below the annular rack-bar whereby the seed-plates will be driven and with al reduced portion adapted to set within said annular rack-bar when the guard-plate is Yinverted.

EDWARD M. HEYLMAN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM F. BoswoR'ri-I, CATHERINE PURCELL.

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